My martial arts have no bottlenecks.

Chapter 36 Transformation of Strength

The return journey after the spring hunt was unexpectedly peaceful.

Yang Wei remained tense throughout the journey, only truly relaxing when the carriage entered the gate of Yangwei Martial Arts School.

This time, Wu Tianxiong actually held back and didn't cause trouble on the way.

The next few days were calm.

Liang Cheng's life returned to its simplest rhythm: staying indoors, practicing boxing during the day, honing his skills, and ignoring everything else.

On a quiet night, when the flow of Qi and blood brought about by the completion of the Hunyuan stance and the whole force generated by the Wild Bull Strength reached a perfect balance in the body.

"Buzz..."

The sound of bones and muscles resonating together was no longer a crisp popping sound, but a deep, continuous hum, like the vibration of a bowstring.

The concentrated energy within his body suddenly changed; it no longer emanated from his body but instead gathered around him, moving with his thoughts, combining both strength and gentleness.

[The power of the wild bull is fully realized]

He achieved the level of "Hua Jin" (化劲) in less than two years of martial arts training.

Liang Cheng slowly withdrew his stance, and the breath he exhaled condensed into a straight white ribbon in the cold winter night, lingering for a long time.

He clenched his fist, feeling the completely different sense of control over the power within his body. His eyes were calm and unwavering. He did not disturb anyone, nor did he report to Yang Wei.

Half a month later, a long howl came from the direction of the west wing, shaking the roof tiles and conveying a sense of unbridled joy.

Zhou Hu emerged from his seclusion, his aura profound and his gaze piercing.

When Zhou Hu broke through to the Transformation Realm, the entire martial arts school rejoiced. Yang Wei even threw a grand banquet to celebrate that the martial arts school finally had its second Transformation Realm master.

During the meal, Zhou Hu repeatedly toasted Liang Cheng, expressing his deepest gratitude. However, he was already twenty-six years old, and it would be difficult for him to advance further.

However, this is the norm in life. Geniuses like Yun Jinghong are exceptions, and people should be content.

Now that Zhou Hu has broken through to the Transformation Realm, Liang Cheng no longer wastes time. He asks Yang Wei for leave to return home, as he needs to arrange household matters before the summer solstice in May.

……

dusk.

Liang Cheng returned quietly to the noodle shop without disturbing any of the neighbors.

Ning San Niang was mending clothes by the light of an oil lamp when she saw her son push the door open and enter. She paused for a moment, then dropped her needle and thread, her eyes instantly turning red.

"Cheng'er!"

"Mother, I'm back."

Ning San Niang got up and made noodles. After Liang Cheng finished eating, he explained his purpose.

"Mother, I've bought a small courtyard in town. We'll move there tomorrow. I need to go to Linwu Martial Arts Academy before May, and my return date is uncertain. If you stay in town, it will be closer to the academy, and my master and fellow disciples can take care of you."

Ning San Niang was a little reluctant, but she didn't want to hold her son back. She wiped away her tears and nodded, "My son is promising. I will listen to you in everything."

The next day, Liang Cheng, along with his mother, brought offerings to the cliffs by the sea.

A simple cenotaph stands on the edge of the cliff. The tombstone is unmarked, with only the words "Liang Shi" inscribed on it. It was erected by Ning San Niang when Liang's father went to sea and never returned.

Liang Cheng arranged the wine and meat, burned three sticks of incense, and knelt down to kowtow.

"Father, I am about to embark on a long journey. Mother has been settled. I will diligently cultivate martial arts to protect her. If you know this in the afterlife, you can rest assured."

The sea breeze howled, and Ning Sanniang's eyes were filled with tears. Liang Cheng went to the side, and Ning Sanniang spoke in a low voice for a long time before getting up.

Liang Cheng added a handful of soil to the grave mound, then helped Ning San Niang turn and leave.

Liang Cheng and Ning San Niang left silently. When they passed the old locust tree at the village entrance, he did not stop. Behind the tree, San Ya clutched the hem of her clothes, watching his departing figure, burying her face in the tree trunk, her shoulders trembling slightly.

From then on, the two lived in two different worlds, and no one knew when they would meet again.

……

Back at the martial arts school, Yang Wei hosted a family banquet, with Zhou Hu, Zhao Yuan, and other disciples from the back courtyard in attendance. Ning San Niang thanked Yang Wei profusely, saying that entrusting her son to Master Yang was the best decision she had ever made in her life.

After the banquet, Liang Cheng took Ning San Niang back to their house in town. Entering the small courtyard, Ning San Niang was a little timid. "Cheng'er, is this where I'll be living from now on?"

Liang Cheng showed Ning San Niang around, and everything had already been arranged. They could simply move in with their bags. Ning San Niang kept saying "thank you, thank you" all the way, her eyes filled with tears.

For the next period of time, Liang Cheng had a complete break.

He had already mastered the Hunyuan Stance, the Mangniu Strength, and the Shijia Gong to perfection, with no further progress to be made. Every day, he simply nourished his Qi and blood and honed his strength, while he began to ponder the matter of finding the next stage of the Shijia Gong.

That afternoon, he was reading through notes on hard kung fu at the martial arts school when the gatekeeper came to report that a fisherman-looking man was outside the door, insisting on seeing him.

When Liang Cheng arrived at the door, he saw that the person who came was the same dark-skinned, thin fisherman who had been bullied by hooligans at the dock and whose thirty coins he had paid for the dock fee.

"Master Liang!" The fisherman was so excited upon seeing him that he didn't know what to do. He looked around nervously and whispered, "This old man has something extremely important to tell you, Master Liang!"

Upon hearing this, Liang Cheng dismissed his attendants and led him to a secluded room.

The fisherman then shakily pulled out a bundle wrapped in several layers of oilcloth from his bosom. When he unwrapped it, he found a leather bag filled with clear seawater.

Inside the skin was a strange fish, over a foot long, with a silvery growth on its head, gleaming faintly and emitting a peculiar fishy smell.

Silver-headed shark!

Liang Cheng's pupils contracted.

"I stumbled upon this a few days ago by sheer luck in a cave on a reef in the deep sea. I know it's a treasure, but possessing such a treasure is a crime, and no one in town dares to look for it."

The fisherman's voice trembled slightly, "I only dare to come to you, Master Liang. You are kind-hearted and capable. I only beg you to give me a fair price!"

Liang Cheng pondered for a moment: "This item is precious; its market value should be over five hundred taels. I'll give you five hundred taels, how about it?"

The fisherman waved his hands repeatedly, "No, no, no, Master Liang, this old man doesn't need that much!"

His eyes pleaded, "This old man only asks for one hundred taels of silver, and I also beg Master Liang to provide my family with a small courtyard in town where we can settle down."

"It doesn't need to be big, just big enough to live in. Then, please have Master Liang tell everyone that this old man is under your protection. Is that alright?"

Liang Cheng remained silent for a moment.

Upon seeing this, the fisherman actually knelt down: "In this world, we fishermen have no roots or support, and we can't even keep any money we have. Only your name, Master Liang, can scare away those wolves. I beg you, Master Liang, to grant my request!"

Liang Cheng quickly helped him up, looking at the humility in the old man's eyes, and then at the silver-headed shark in the skin that was enough to drive many martial artists crazy.

"Okay." He nodded in agreement.

"I'll give you one hundred taels of silver. Within three days, I'll find you a suitable house and transfer it to your name. After that, in town, you can say you're an old friend of mine, Liang Cheng."

The fisherman burst into tears, expressing his deepest gratitude. After seeing the fisherman off, Liang Cheng stared blankly at the silver-headed shark in his hand.

The silver-headed shark, worth five hundred taels, was exchanged for only one hundred taels plus a promise. All the fisherman sought was a humble sense of security in a chaotic world.

He calmed himself down and slowly swallowed it in a few bites. The warm energy spread throughout his body and settled in his blood and qi.

Next, Liang Cheng spoke up, and with his current status, he quickly helped the fisherman find a place to live in the town, and everything went smoothly.

Just then, Yang Wei sent someone to summon Liang Cheng.

"Liang Cheng, we have found a clue to the incomplete Stone Armor Technique manual."

Liang Cheng suddenly stood up, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.